Process of making buttons.



J. L. LYNCH.

' PROCESS OF MAKING BUTTONS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2, 19H- Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

citizen of the United. States, and

Serial No. 696,131. c

v The usual type of button as heretofore- .rosnrn 1.. LYncH, or crrrcaco, ILLnroIs.

PROCESS OF MAKING BUTTONS.-

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed January 12, 1914. Serial No. 811,544.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,-JosEPH L. LYNCH, a a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Making Buttons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 2

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of buttons of that type set forth in my co-pending application for patent for buttons, filed -May 9, 1912,

constructed has consisted of a metal base over which a printed or lithographed design and thereafter a sheet of celluloid is secured,

and the various elements are then permanently associated with. one another in.the forming dies for the button.

By my invention,-however, I am enabled to produce a button of the same appearance and durability, although at a much less cost.

It is an object of my invention to produce a button constructed ofmetal having any desired design in any desired color or combination printed or lithographed directly on the metal itself, and with a transparent protecting coating applied to give a high glossand improve the appearance thereof.

It is furthermore an object of my invention to form a number of button blanks from "a single sheet .of metal, conveniently tin,

having a number of designs printed or otherwise applied directly thereon and with a transparent coating painted or sprayed thereon in liquid form, which, when hardening, adheres as an integral part of the metal and, at the same time, is of such a tough and yielding nature as to ermit bending of the metal, as during the ormation of a button, without causing a cracking or disfiguring either of the design or the protective transparent coating itself.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a strip'of metal having a number of button designs thereon illustrating certain ste s in-the process.

Fig. 2 1s a stampe out portion of" the metal having the design and transparent coating thereon.

Fig. 3 is a front face view ofthe completed button.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3, and illustrating in dotted lines the flat piece of metal before the button is formed.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings:

A flat strip of metal of convenient size denoted by the reference numeral 1, has a number of similar designs 2, applied on the metal itself in any one or number of desired colors by embossing or imprinting or by transfer thereto by photography, decalco mania or otherwise. As shown, the desi consists of the letter S contained within a circle, and obviously any picture, lettering, or emblem may be so usedand applied. U

After the desired designs are applied to the metal a liquid solution is applied thereto by painting, rolling, dipping, pouring or by an air spray, which dries with a high luster and forms an elastic coating 3, on the sheet very similar to a celluloid covering. A preferred form of liquid solution for this purpose is one known in the open market as Pyraline lacquer, manufactured by the Arlington Company, of Arlington, N. J though I contemplate employing any other liquid solution adapted for this purpose.

The button blank 4, is then stamped from the sheet, leaving the aperture 5, therein, and is then passed through suitable dies to form an inturned flange 6, serving as a retaining means for a pin and clasp wire 7, for the completed button.

By this process a button is thus formed which is exactly similar in appearance to the ordinary type of paper and celluloid covered metal buttons, but which is produced at an exceedingly less cost, andfurthermore, owing to the fact that in its .finished condition, it. is essentially an allmetal construction, it 1s far more durable than the-other older type of button.

I am aware that variousidetails of the process may be varied to suit different con ditions Without departing. from the basic principles of. the process. Itherefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A metal button, having a design applied to its outer face, and a coating of" elastic transparent material covering said design. v

2. The. process of preparing a button blank, which consists in applying to its outer face a design, and then coating the same with an elastic transparent covering by applying the same thereon in liquid form and permitting the same to harden.

3. The process of forming button blanks, which consists in applying a number of designs upon a sheet of metal, then coating the sheet with a transparent elastic covering,

and finally stamping the button blanks from 10 v JOSEPH L. LYNCH. Witnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr., FRANK K. HUDSON. 

